Sshhh….That’s Taboo! Reading Challenge

[Jim son of Jim (formerly PhotoJim)]

Way to go Alathea! I'm just waiting to start officially until I pick a book to start with.

[Kami]

This is a great idea for a challenge!

Start date: May 1st
End date: November 1st
Will add to my list as I come up with the other books...

Religion and/or Spirituality
The Witch of Portobello (mystical beliefs)
The Magdalen (Irish Catholic convent)

Politics

Sexuality

Other Controversial Topics
Wintergirls (teenage eating disorders)
Thirteen Reasons Why (teenage suicide)

Banned Books

[Nita]

Finished my first book from the sexuality category. I just could not enjoy this book as much as other erotica I have read. I the story did not grab me. Plus the animal sex turned me off.

4/9/10 - 10/8/10
1/10 done

Religion
1. The Sparrow
2. The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ

Politics
3. The Secret History of the Mongol Queens
4. The Heretic Queen

Sexuality
5. Wolf Tales I 4/17 **
6. Undercover

Other
7. TBD
8. TBD

Banned
9. A Wrinkle in Time
10. The Handmaid's Tale
Both from the ALA Banned Book List: http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy...

[image error]

[Charlotte (Buried in Books)]

Nita wrote: "Finished my first book from the sexuality category. I just could not enjoy this book as much as other erotica I have read. I the story did not grab me. Plus the animal sex turned me off.

4/9/10..."

Animal sex? Please tell me that was sex while they were animals - not sex with animals. That would just be wrong.

[Nita]

Charlotte (Buried in Books) wrote: "Animal sex? Please tell me that was sex while they were animals - not sex with animals. That would just be wrong."

It was sex while one partner was in their animal form. Though they would change to their human form half way through, I found it too icky.

[Charlotte (Buried in Books)]

Nita wrote: "Charlotte (Buried in Books) wrote: "Animal sex? Please tell me that was sex while they were animals - not sex with animals. That would just be wrong."

It was sex while one partner was in their ani..."

That's just wrong - well done for finishing it!!

[Annie]

I'm in...
Duration: 10 April to 10 November.

Religion and/or spirituality:
TBD

Politics:
Animal Farm
Gulliver's Travels

Sexuality:
Wicked Sacrifice 11 April
Luna

Other controversial topics:
The Color Purple (incest, child abuse, rape...)
Bee And Jacky (incest)

Banned books:
A Wrinkle in Time from: ALA list. 18 April.
The Gulag Archipelago: 1918-1956 from Wikipedia banned books

[Julianna]

I'm in. Will post as I go.

Sshhh….That’s Taboo! Reading Challenge
Duration: April 14, 2010 to Oct. 14, 2010
Book Completed: 1/10

Religion and/or Spirituality
1.
2.

Politics
3.
4.

Sexuality
5.
6.

Other Controversial Topics
7.
8.

Banned Books
9.Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson (4/15)
10.
http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy...

[Nita]

4/9/10 - 10/8/10
2/10 done

Religion
1. The Sparrow
2. The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ

Politics
3. The Secret History of the Mongol Queens
4. The Heretic Queen

Sexuality
5. Wolf Tales I 4/17 **
6. Undercover 4/10 ***

Other
7. TBD
8. TBD

Banned
9. A Wrinkle in Time
10. The Handmaid's Tale
Both from the ALA Banned Book List: http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy...

[image error]

[SandyC]

Start April 15
End October 15
1/10 Finished
Religion:

(characters struggle with faith in post-war England)



Politics:
Hillary Clinton bio [[book:Princess Sultana's Daughters|266242]] (about the status of women in Saudi Arabian society)

Sexuality:

Other Controversial Topics:
(about child prostitution)
(suicide)

Banned Books:


Banned books from http://www.oclc.org/research/top1000/...

[Nita]

4/9/10 - 10/8/10
3/10 done

Religion
1. The Sparrow
2. The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ

Politics
3. The Secret History of the Mongol Queens
4. The Heretic Queen 4/25 ****

Sexuality
5. Wolf Tales I 4/17 **
6. Undercover 4/10 ***

Other
7. TBD
8. TBD

Banned
9. A Wrinkle in Time
10. The Handmaid's Tale
Both from the ALA Banned Book List: http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy...

[image error]

[Ѽ Cher Ѽ]

Sshhh….That’s Taboo! Reading Challenge
2/10 completed

Here is my List...

Duration: 6 Months
Start Date: 01 May 2010
End Date: 01 Nov 2010

RELIGION/SPIRITUAL:
Bless Me, Ultima by: Rudolfo Anaya (religious, ocult)
God's Politics: Why the Right Gets It Wrong and the Left Doesn't Get It by: Jim Wallis ( religious, spritual morals)


POLITICS:
The Catcher in the Rye by: J.D Salinger
1984 by: George Orwell


SEXUALITY:
Flowers in the Attic by: V.C Andrews
Wicked Sacrifice by: Lora Leigh


OTHER CONTROVERSIAL BOOKS:
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by: Maya Angelou
The Lovely Bones by: Alice Sebold ~ 5/5/10


BANNED BOOKS:
Black Boy by: Richard Wright 5/12/10
The Kite Runner by: Khaled Hosseini


source: http://hunch.com/banned-books/

Also Read ...
A Raisin in the Sun

[Lizz (Beer, Books and Boos)]

Im in and post as I go

[Julianna]

Sshhh….That’s Taboo! Reading Challenge
Duration: April 14, 2010 to Oct. 14, 2010
Books Completed: 2/10

Religion and/or Spirituality
1.
2.

Politics
3.
4.

Sexuality
5.
6.

Other Controversial Topics
7.Meant to Be Married by Ruth Wind (racism/inter-racial romance) (4/28)
8.

Banned Books
9.Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson (4/15)
10.
http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy...

[Jennefer]

Ok I am ready to start this one! I will fill in as I go.
Start Date 05/01/10 End Date 10/31/10

"Controversial' as we all know, is often a euphemism for 'interesting and intelligent." ~Kevin Smith


Religion and/or Spirituality (religious persecution, controversial spiritual movements, wars or conflicts caused by religion, books involving gods, deities or other religious figures, etc)

Politics (books set in the political arena; politicians as characters; biographies of political figures, etc)

Sexuality (m/m or f/f books, ménage, BDSM, strange sexual fetishes, etc)

Other Controversial Topics (This is pretty much an open field: rape, abortion, addiction, racism, child abuse, etc)

Banned Books (There are many lists available online. Please link which list your book/s come from)
Lady Chatterley's Lover by DH Lawrence

[Toni]

I'm in now.
4/30/10 - 10/30/10

Read 2 books from the following categories.

Religion/Spirituality
1. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
2. The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown 5/3/10

Political
1. 1984 by George Orwell
2. Animal Farm by George Orwell

Sexuality
1. Lord John and the Private Matter by Diana Gabaldon
2. Lord John and the Brotherhood of the Blade by Diana Gabaldon

Other Taboos
1. Fireflies in December by Jennifer Erin Valent
2. Go Ask Alice by Anonymous

Banned Books
1. Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret by Judy Blume
2. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain

[Lizz (Beer, Books and Boos)]

0/10
5/1/10-11/1/10

Religion:

Politics:

Sexuality:

Other Controversial Topics:

Banned Books:

[Julianna]

Sshhh….That’s Taboo! Reading Challenge
Duration: April 14, 2010 to Oct. 14, 2010
Books Completed: 3/10

Religion and/or Spirituality
1.
2.

Politics
3."At Ease: Stories I Tell to Friends" by Dwight D. Eisenhower (from the Reader's Digest Condensed Books, Summer 1967 anthology) (5/4)
4.

Sexuality
5.
6.

Other Controversial Topics
7.Meant to Be Married by Ruth Wind (racism/inter-racial romance) (4/28)
8.

Banned Books
9.Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson (4/15)
10.
http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy...

[Lizz (Beer, Books and Boos)]

1/10
5/1/10-11/1/10

Religion:

Politics:

Sexuality:
Sticky Fingers

Other Controversial Topics:

Banned Books:

[FlibBityFLooB]

1/10 read.
Start: April 9, 2010
End: October 8, 2010

Religion:
1. The Year of Living Biblically: One Man's Quest to Follow the Bible Literally by Jacobs
2. The 19th Wife by Ebershoff

Politics:
3. Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America by Ehrenreich
4. A Vindication of the Rights of Woman by Wollstonecraft

Sexuality: (f/f historicals)
5. Tipping the Velvet by Waters
6. Fingersmith by Waters

Other Controversial Topics:
7. Annie's Song by Anderson (rape)
8. Wide Sargasso Sea by Rhys
(about the madness of a wife who is locked away by her husband... precursor to Jane Eyre)

Banned Books:
9.Blood and Chocolate by Klause - 5/10/10
10. Gossip Girl by Von Ziegesar

[Macwolf01 [Elise]]

I'm in too, I need to figure out the rest of my books ... E
Start: May 1, 2010
End: November 1, 2010

Religion:

Politics:

Sexuality:

Other Controversial Topics:
Blood Brothers (Sign of Seven Trilogy) by Nora Roberts (rape)

Banned Books:

[Lizz (Beer, Books and Boos)]

2/10
5/1/10-11/1/10

Religion:

Politics:

Sexuality:
Sticky Fingers

Other Controversial Topics:
Just Listen (Rape)

Banned Books:

[Elise-Pinterest+Goodreads=The Perfect Book Boyfriend]

I'm in. This sounds like fun. I will work to get my list together.

[Ѽ Cher Ѽ]

Sshhh….That’s Taboo! Reading Challenge
3/10 completed


Duration: 6 Months
Start Date: 01 May 2010
End Date: 01 Nov 2010

RELIGION/SPIRITUAL:
Bless Me, Ultima by: Rudolfo Anaya (religious, ocult)
God's Politics: Why the Right Gets It Wrong and the Left Doesn't Get It by: Jim Wallis ( religious, spritual morals)


POLITICS:
The Catcher in the Rye by: J.D Salinger
1984 by: George Orwell


SEXUALITY:
Flowers in the Attic by: V.C Andrews
Wicked Sacrifice by: Lora Leigh


OTHER CONTROVERSIAL BOOKS:
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by: Maya Angelou
The Lovely Bones by: Alice Sebold ~ 5/5/10


BANNED BOOKS:
Black Boy by: Richard Wright 5/12/10
The Kite Runner by: Khaled Hosseini 5/21/10


source: http://hunch.com/banned-books/

Also Read ...
A Raisin in the Sun

[Valorie]

RRRC Taboo Reading Challenge
Duration: May 1st - November 1st

1/10 Done

Religion and/or Spirituality
Both books feature fallen Angels
1. Fallen Angel by Margaret Weis
2. Covet by J.R. Ward


Politics
Both books have a politician character
1. Metro Girl by Janet Evanovich
2. Murder Game by Christine Feehan


Sexuality
1. Demon's Fire by Emma Holly
2. Wolf Tales I by Kate Douglas


Other Controversial Topics
Book one, child abuse. Book two, sex trafficking.
1. Forgotten: A Novel by Mariah Stewart
2. The Second Betrayal by Cheyenne McCray


Banned Books
Both from the ALA Banned Book List: http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy...
1. Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret by Judy Blume
2. Forever by Judy Blume 5/16 ***

[SandyC]

Start April 15
End October 15
2/10 Finished
Religion:

(characters struggle with faith in post-war England)



Politics:
Hillary Clinton bio Princess Sultana's Daughters (about the status of women in Saudi Arabian society)

Sexuality:

Other Controversial Topics:
(about child prostitution)
(suicide)

Banned Books:
The Grapes of Wrath FINISHED 5/18/10

Banned books from http://www.oclc.org/research/top1000/...

[SandyC]

Start April 15
End October 15
3/10 Finished
Religion:
CURRENTLY READING
Brideshead Revisited FINISHED 5/23/10


Politics:
Hillary Clinton bio Princess Sultana's Daughters (about the status of women in Saudi Arabian society)

Sexuality:

Other Controversial Topics:
(about child prostitution)
(suicide)

Banned Books:
The Grapes of Wrath FINISHED 5/18/10

Banned books from http://www.oclc.org/research/top1000/...

[FlibBityFLooB]

2/10. I do *not* recommend Gossip Girl. It was awful.
Start: April 9, 2010
End: October 8, 2010

Religion:
1. The Year of Living Biblically: One Man's Quest to Follow the Bible Literally by Jacobs
2. The 19th Wife by Ebershoff

Politics:
3. Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America by Ehrenreich
4. A Vindication of the Rights of Woman by Wollstonecraft

Sexuality: (f/f historicals)
5. Tipping the Velvet by Waters
6. Fingersmith by Waters

Other Controversial Topics:
7. Annie's Song by Anderson (rape)
8. Wide Sargasso Sea by Rhys
(about the madness of a wife who is locked away by her husband... precursor to Jane Eyre)

Banned Books:
9.Blood and Chocolate by Klause - 5/10/10
10. Gossip Girl by Von Ziegesar - 5/24/10

[Valorie]

Duration: May 1st - November 1st

2/10 Done

Religion and/or Spirituality
Both books feature fallen Angels
1. Fallen Angel by Margaret Weis
2. Covet by J.R. Ward


Politics
Both books have a politician character
1. Metro Girl by Janet Evanovich 5/25 *****
2. Murder Game by Christine Feehan


Sexuality
1. Demon's Fire by Emma Holly
2. Wolf Tales I by Kate Douglas


Other Controversial Topics
Book one, child abuse. Book two, sex trafficking.
1. Forgotten: A Novel by Mariah Stewart
2. The Second Betrayal by Cheyenne McCray


Banned Books
Both from the ALA Banned Book List: http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy...
1. Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret by Judy Blume
2. Forever by Judy Blume 5/16 ***

[SandyC]

Start April 15
End October 15
4/10 Finished as of 5/27/10
Religion:
The Lost Symbol FINISHED 5/27/10
Brideshead Revisited FINISHED 5/23/10


Politics:
Living History
Princess Sultana's Daughters (about the status of women in Saudi Arabian society)

Sexuality:
How to Make Love Like a Porn Star: A Cautionary Tale
Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang

Other Controversial Topics:
Sold
Ordinary People

Banned Books:
The Grapes of Wrath FINISHED 5/18/10
Tess of the D'Urbervilles
Banned books from http://www.oclc.org/research/top1000/...

[Valorie]

Duration: May 1st - November 1st

3/10 Done

Religion and/or Spirituality
Both books feature fallen Angels
1. Fallen Angel by Margaret Weis
2. Covet by J.R. Ward


Politics
Both books have a politician character
1. Metro Girl by Janet Evanovich 5/25 *****
2. Murder Game by Christine Feehan 5/30 *****


Sexuality
1. Demon's Fire by Emma Holly
2. Wolf Tales I by Kate Douglas


Other Controversial Topics
Book one, child abuse. Book two, sex trafficking.
1. Forgotten: A Novel by Mariah Stewart
2. The Second Betrayal by Cheyenne McCray


Banned Books
Both from the ALA Banned Book List: http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy...
1. Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret by Judy Blume
2. Forever by Judy Blume 5/16 ***

[Nita]

4/9/10 - 10/8/10
4/10 done

Religion
1. The Sparrow
2. The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ 6/11 ****

Politics
3. The Secret History of the Mongol Queens
4. The Heretic Queen 4/25 ****

Sexuality
5. Wolf Tales I 4/17 **
6. Undercover 4/10 ***

Other
7. TBD
8. TBD

Banned
9. A Wrinkle in Time
10. The Handmaid's Tale
Both from the ALA Banned Book List: http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy...

[Ѽ Cher Ѽ]

Sshhh….That’s Taboo! Reading Challenge
6/10 completed


Duration: 6 Months
Start Date: 01 May 2010
End Date: 01 Nov 2010

RELIGION/SPIRITUAL:
Bless Me, Ultima by: Rudolfo Anaya (religious, ocult) ~ DONE ~ 23 Jun 10
God's Politics: Why the Right Gets It Wrong and the Left Doesn't Get It by: Jim Wallis ( religious, spritual morals)


POLITICS:
The Catcher in the Rye by: J.D Salinger
1984 by: George Orwell


SEXUALITY:
Club Shadowlands by: Cherise Sinclair ~ DONE ~ 14 JUN 10
Dark Citadel by: Cherise Sinclair ~ DONE ~ 16 JUN 10


OTHER CONTROVERSIAL BOOKS:
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by: Maya Angelou
The Lovely Bones by: Alice Sebold ~ DONE ~ 5 MAY 10


BANNED BOOKS:
Black Boy by: Richard Wright ~ DONE ~ 5 MAY 10
The Kite Runner by: Khaled Hosseini ~ DONE ~ 21 MAY 10


source: http://hunch.com/banned-books/

Also Read ...
A Raisin in the Sun

[SandyC]

Start April 15
End October 15
5/10 Finished
Religion:
The Lost Symbol FINISHED 5/27/10
Brideshead Revisited FINISHED 5/23/10


Politics:
Living History
Princess Sultana's Daughters (about the status of women in Saudi Arabian society)

Sexuality:
How to Make Love Like a Porn Star: A Cautionary Tale
Sun Stroked FINISHED 6/18/10 (note, this was a change)

Other Controversial Topics:
Sold
Ordinary People

Banned Books:
The Grapes of Wrath FINISHED 5/18/10
Tess of the D'Urbervilles
Banned books from http://www.oclc.org/research/top1000/...

[FlibBityFLooB]

3/10. Swapped out one of my other controversial topics books when I found a book that piqued my interest. It was about a straight guy that was going gay-for-pay in the porn industry. Interesting concept.

Religion:
1. The Year of Living Biblically: One Man's Quest to Follow the Bible Literally by Jacobs
2. The 19th Wife by Ebershoff

Politics:
3. Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America by Ehrenreich
4. A Vindication of the Rights of Woman by Wollstonecraft

Sexuality: (f/f historicals)
5. Tipping the Velvet by Waters
6. Fingersmith by Waters

Other Controversial Topics:
7. Annie's Song by Anderson (rape)
8. More Than Make-Believe by Tymber Dalton (gay-for-pay porn) - 06/17/10

Banned Books:
9.Blood and Chocolate by Klause - 5/10/10
10. Gossip Girl by Von Ziegesar - 5/24/10

[SandyC]

6/10 Finished
Religion:
The Lost Symbol FINISHED 5/27/10
Brideshead Revisited FINISHED 5/23/10


Politics:
Living History
Princess Sultana's Daughters (about the status of women in Saudi Arabian society)

Sexuality:
How to Make Love Like a Porn Star: A Cautionary Tale
Sun Stroked FINISHED 6/18/10 (note, this was a change)

Other Controversial Topics:
Sold FINISHED 6/29/10
Ordinary People

Banned Books:
The Grapes of Wrath FINISHED 5/18/10
Tess of the D'Urbervilles
Banned books from http://www.oclc.org/research/top1000/...

[Rebecca]

I am going to have to try this challenge later because I just can't seem to figure out what I want to read for Religion and Politics.

[Jennefer]

I finally worked out my list.... I think... might still make some changes :)

"Controversial' as we all know, is often a euphemism for 'interesting and intelligent." ~Kevin Smith


Religion and/or Spirituality:
Rashi's Daughters, Book II: Miriam (medieval Jewish historical love story)
Rashi's Daughters, Book III: Rachel: A Novel of Love and the Talmud in Medieval France

Politics:
The President's Lady (love story of Rachel and Andrew Jackson)
The India Fan (set during the time of the Indian independence movement)

Sexuality:
Between Lovers (bi-sexual)
Robin and Ruby (m/m)


Other Controversial Topics:
Fallen from Grace (male escort) 05/17
The Kadin 07/02 (Heroine kidnapped and sold into slavery.)

Banned Books from the Best Banned and/or Censored Books (or Worst to have banned)
Lady Chatterley's Lover by DH Lawrence 06/20
Forever by Judy Blume

[Julianna]

Sshhh….That’s Taboo! Reading Challenge
Duration: April 14, 2010 to Oct. 14, 2010
Books Completed: 4/10

Religion and/or Spirituality
1.
2.

Politics
3."At Ease: Stories I Tell to Friends" by Dwight D. Eisenhower (from the Reader's Digest Condensed Books, Summer 1967 anthology) (5/4)
4.

Sexuality
5.
6.

Other Controversial Topics
7.Meant to Be Married by Ruth Wind (racism/inter-racial romance) (4/28)
8.Don't Tell by Karen Rose (domestic abuse) (7/8)

Banned Books
9.Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson (4/15)
10.
http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy...

[Ѽ Cher Ѽ]

Sshhh….That’s Taboo! Reading Challenge
7/10 + 1 completed


Duration: 6 Months
Start Date: 01 May 2010
End Date: 01 Nov 2010

RELIGION/SPIRITUAL:
Bless Me, Ultima by: Rudolfo Anaya (religious, ocult) ~ DONE ~ 23 Jun 10
God's Politics: Why the Right Gets It Wrong and the Left Doesn't Get It by: Jim Wallis ( religious, spritual morals)


POLITICS:
The Catcher in the Rye by: J.D Salinger
1984 by: George Orwell ~ DONE ~ 10 JUL 10



SEXUALITY:
Club Shadowlands by: Cherise Sinclair ~ DONE ~ 14 JUN 10
Dark Citadel by: Cherise Sinclair ~ DONE ~ 16 JUN 10


OTHER CONTROVERSIAL BOOKS:
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by: Maya Angelou
The Lovely Bones by: Alice Sebold ~ DONE ~ 5 MAY 10


BANNED BOOKS:
Black Boy by: Richard Wright ~ DONE ~ 5 MAY 10
The Kite Runner by: Khaled Hosseini ~ DONE ~ 21 MAY 10


source: http://hunch.com/banned-books/

Also Read ...
A Raisin in the Sun

[FlibBityFLooB]

4/10. Enjoyed my first religion book :)

Religion:
1. The Year of Living Biblically: One Man's Quest to Follow the Bible Literally by Jacobs - 7/16/10
2. The 19th Wife by Ebershoff

Politics:
3. Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America by Ehrenreich
4. A Vindication of the Rights of Woman by Wollstonecraft

Sexuality: (f/f historicals)
5. Tipping the Velvet by Waters
6. Fingersmith by Waters

Other Controversial Topics:
7. Annie's Song by Anderson (rape)
8. More Than Make-Believe by Tymber Dalton (gay-for-pay porn) - 06/17/10

Banned Books:
9.Blood and Chocolate by Klause - 5/10/10
10. Gossip Girl by Von Ziegesar - 5/24/10

[Mandapanda]

What a wonderful challenge. Here are my initial picks. Will post more as I go.
Sshhh….That’s Taboo! Reading Challenge

Duration: 6 months Start 17/07/10 End 17/01/10
Required total number of books: 10
0/10

Religion and/or Spirituality:

Buddhism Plain and Simple
An introduction to Buddhism
The Hospital by the River: A Story of Hope
Dr. Catherine Hamlin recalls her life and career in Ethiopia aiding suffering women. Her unyielding courage and solid faith will astound Christians worldwide as she shares her amazing journey

Politics:
Leap of Faith: Memoirs of an Unexpected Life
Leap of Faith is the story of a young American woman who became wife and partner to an Arab monarch
A Continent for the Taking: The Tragedy and
Hope of Africa
A compelling firsthand account of some of Africa’s most devastating recent history

Sexuality:
Left of Center
An MM romance
The Good Doctor
An MM romance. A free online story

Other Controversial Topics:
Sisters of the Extreme: Women Writing on the Drug Experience, Including Charlotte Bronte, Louisa May Alcott, Anais Nin, Maya Angelou, Billie Holiday, Nina Hagen, Carrie Fisher, and Others
With great honesty, bravery, and frankness, women from diverse backgrounds write about their drug experiences
The Road of Lost Innocence: The True Story of a Cambodian Heroine
A story of child prostitution

Banned Books:

I thought I would choose children’s/YA books to see what they’re trying to stop our kids from reading these days. These are from the American Library Association of the most banned/challenged books in American libraries. Top ten banned books of 2009.

And Tango Makes Three
Reasons for ban: Homosexuality
The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things
Reasons for Ban: Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Unsuited to Age Group

[Julianna]

Sshhh….That’s Taboo! Reading Challenge
Duration: April 14, 2010 to Oct. 14, 2010
Books Completed: 5/10

Religion and/or Spirituality
1.
2.

Politics
3."At Ease: Stories I Tell to Friends" by Dwight D. Eisenhower (from the Reader's Digest Condensed Books, Summer 1967 anthology) (5/4)
4.

Sexuality
5.Maverick's Black Cat by Maggie Casper & Lena Matthews (BDSM) (7/18)
6.

Other Controversial Topics
7.Meant to Be Married by Ruth Wind (racism/inter-racial romance) (4/28)
8.Don't Tell by Karen Rose (domestic abuse) (7/8)

Banned Books
9.Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson (4/15)
10.
http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy...

[~Sara~]

4/10 complete

Religion and/or Spirituality
A Canticle for Leibowitz - Set in a Roman Catholic monastery in the desert of the Southwestern United States after a devastating nuclear war.
7/7****The Master and Margarita

Politics
Animal Farm - a satirical allegory of Russian government under Stalin.
Nineteen Eighty-Four - a dystopian novel about a totalitarian regime.

Sexuality
Overlord's Vessel
Fleetblade
Both contain BDSM.

Other Controversial Topics:
Lolita - the story of a middle-aged man's obsession with his 12 year old stepdaughter.
4/30***The Lovely Bones

Banned Books
7/19*****We
7/16****Slaughterhouse-Five

[Andrea]

I would like to start this one also.

July 26, 2010
January 26, 2011

I have to wait until next week when I'm on vacation to start.

[Julianna]

Sshhh….That’s Taboo! Reading Challenge
Duration: April 14, 2010 to Oct. 14, 2010
Books Completed: 6/10

Religion and/or Spirituality
1.
2.

Politics
3."At Ease: Stories I Tell to Friends" by Dwight D. Eisenhower (from the Reader's Digest Condensed Books, Summer 1967 anthology) (5/4)
4.President Obama Election 2008 by The Poynter Institute (7/27)

Sexuality
5.Maverick's Black Cat by Maggie Casper & Lena Matthews (BDSM) (7/18)
6.

Other Controversial Topics
7.Meant to Be Married by Ruth Wind (racism/inter-racial romance) (4/28)
8.Don't Tell by Karen Rose (domestic abuse) (7/8)

Banned Books
9.Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson (4/15)
10.
http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy...

[SandyC]

Start April 15
End October 15
7/10 Finished
Religion:
The Lost Symbol FINISHED 5/27/10
Brideshead Revisited FINISHED 5/23/10


Politics:
Living History
Princess Sultana's Daughters (about the status of women in Saudi Arabian society)

Sexuality:
How to Make Love Like a Porn Star: A Cautionary Tale FINISHED 7/29/10
Sun Stroked FINISHED 6/18/10 (note, this was a change)

Other Controversial Topics:
Sold FINISHED 6/29/10
Ordinary People

Banned Books:
The Grapes of Wrath FINISHED 5/18/10
Tess of the D'Urbervilles
Banned books from http://www.oclc.org/research/top1000/...

[Julianna]

Sshhh….That’s Taboo! Reading Challenge
Duration: April 14, 2010 to Oct. 14, 2010
Books Completed: 7/10

Religion and/or Spirituality
1.
2.

Politics
3."At Ease: Stories I Tell to Friends" by Dwight D. Eisenhower (from the Reader's Digest Condensed Books, Summer 1967 anthology) (5/4)
4.President Obama Election 2008 by The Poynter Institute (7/27)

Sexuality
5.Maverick's Black Cat by Maggie Casper & Lena Matthews (BDSM) (7/18)
6.

Other Controversial Topics
7.Meant to Be Married by Ruth Wind (racism/inter-racial romance) (4/28)
8.Don't Tell by Karen Rose (domestic abuse) (7/8)

Banned Books
9.Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson (4/15)
10.Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling (7/30)
http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy...

[Valorie]

Duration: May 1st - November 1st

5/10 Done

Religion and/or Spirituality
Both books feature fallen Angels
1. Fallen Angel by Margaret Weis
2. Covet by J.R. Ward


Politics
Both books have a politician character
1. Metro Girl by Janet Evanovich 5/25 *****
2. Murder Game by Christine Feehan 5/30 *****


Sexuality
1. Demon's Fire by Emma Holly 8/3 ****
2. Wolf Tales I by Kate Douglas


Other Controversial Topics
Book one, child abuse. Book two, sex trafficking.
1. Forgotten: A Novel by Mariah Stewart
2. The Second Betrayal by Cheyenne McCray


Banned Books
Both from the ALA Banned Book List: http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy...
1. Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret by Judy Blume 6/1 ***
2. Forever by Judy Blume 5/16 ***

[Charlotte (Buried in Books)]

RRR - Shhhh It's Taboo

1st September '10 to 28th February '11

0/10

Religion - The Fall of Lucifer by Wendy Alec
Religion - The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough
Politics - Leap of Faith: Memoirs of an Unexpected Life by Noor Al-Hussein - It's the biography of the former Queen of Jordan (involves a lot of information about the middle east situation)
Politics - Jennifer Government by Max Barry
Sexuality - Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf - Apparent themes of manlove and ladylove.
Sexuality - The Vampire Queen's Servant - Joey W. Hill
Other - The Stranger Beside Me by Ann Rule - About Ted Bundy (who I'm lead to believe had "relations" with his victims - after they stopped breathing).
Other - Monster Love by Carol Topolski (child abuse).
Banned - To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Banned - Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

I never originally started this challenge (although I did post a list I didn't put start and end dates on it), but I think I can cover a lot of the "Back to School" topics with this as well.